The Lists

Top 14 Abused Prescription Drugs

Should you just say no to these medicines?

Unfortunately, prescription drug abuse is common—for some drugs much more than others. Here, GEN has compiled the 14 that top the list. [Andrew S. - Fotolia.com]

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Anyone who has ever been a member of the D.A.R.E. program or even just watched their share of kids' television growing up is well aware of the dangers of illegal drugs. Yet, what about prescription drugs? Celebrities ranging from Michael Jackson to Rush Limbaugh and from Heath Ledger to Elvis Presley have battled (and, in many cases, lost the battle with) prescription drug addiction. So, which prescription drugs are the biggest culprits?

GEN put together a list of 14 top abused prescription drugs, as listed by CDC, FDA, and nongovernment nonprofit sources on public websites. Sales figures were mostly supplied by the manufacturers; footnotes delineate where another source was used. Currency conversions are likewise delineated in footnotes.

#14. Ativan (lorazepam)

Maker of brand-name drug: Pfizer

2011 sales: $12 million1

2010 sales: $11 million1

% Change: 9.1%

Indication: Anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms

Is prescription drug abuse a serious problem in the U.S.?

Indications come from FDA-approved product labels. Generic drug availability information came from company announcements, filings, and websites; as well as publicly available noncompany sources such as drug message boards.

Notes:1 Sales data from EvaluatePharma.2 Currency conversions as of Dec. 6, according to xe.com.

Readers' Comments

Posted 12/12/2012 by katherine cane

What a brilliant idea to have listedthe most used drugs in America. Valium and Vicodin take the cake.This is a tremendously valuable addition to GEN. I just saw the article and got totally immersed in the story. What a pleasant surpriseI enjoyed voting in the polls.

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